Big hair, big movies, big bands, and big innovation. What's not to love about the 80s? Well, Practical Folks figure it was one of the worst decades in history.
Do the trickle-down economics, greed, Cold War fear, and Reagan's big business policies outweigh the great parts of the 1980s? Practical Folks have pointed out that the 80s were full of economic turmoil and poor government decisions, but they only graze the surface of the surging pop culture and art scenes, which shaped society as we know it. So let's dig into a few of the raddest parts of the 80s.
There were huge advancements in the tech world in the 80s that included the introduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, the first Macintosh computers in 1984, and the first surrogate pregnancy in 1986.
From a social angle, the 1980s were important for creating a more open society. People weren't as private. They started to push boundaries on what they shared with the world. Talk shows took off in the 80s and because of this people started to openly discuss politics, family issues, and sexuality. The average person became more and more interested in the struggles of their peers and how it related to their everyday lives. It also lead to more openness in the arts.
The 80s were a killer time for movies, giving rise to the phenomenon of the blockbuster. The decade saw the release of classics like The Empire Strikes Back, The Shining, Blade Runner, Aliens, Terminator, Amadeus, Raging Bull, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Breakfast Club.
Who can forget 80s music? According Practical Folks, 80s hair metal was a bad thing, but tell that to Bon Jovi, who has performed over 2,700 concerts to more than 34 million fans. What about 'The Game' from Queen? 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and 'Another One Bites The Dust' both reached #1 in the US. Hello, is it Lionel Richie you're looking for? Or are you looking for a 'Kiss' from 80s era Prince? Apparently not even a little song called 'Thriller' is good enough for these Practical Folks.
So are the 80s not all they're cracked up to be, or is bigger better?